Filament positioner for support wire loop forming device



Nov. 5, 1957 T. HAMILTON 2,811,988

FILAMENT POSITIONER FOR SUPPORT WIRE LOOP FORMING DEVICE F-iled Oct. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 j I no, J 60 SW90 Aw W\RE DNSERTWIG.

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THOMAS HAVNL'FON AT TORNEY Nov 5, 1957 T. HAMILTON FILAMENT POSITIONER FOR SUPPORT WIRE LOOP FORMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1954 INVENTOR. THOMkS HAVMU 0N RT T0 RN EY Nov. 5, 1957 T. HAMILTON 2,811,988

FILAMENT POSITIONER FOR SUPPORT WIRE LOOP FORMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

THOMAS HAMKTON A! TORNEY FHLAMENT POSITIONER FOR SUPPORT WIRE LOOP FORMING DEVICE Thomas Hamilton, Verona, N. 1., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporahon of Pennsylvania Application October 20, 1954, Serial No. 463,431

2 Claims. (Cl. 14071.6)

The present invention relates to an automatic mount making machine and, more particularly, to a filament positioner for a support wire loop forming device.

The present method of locating a coiled filament in the center of the filament support wire loop forming die on incandescent lamp mounts is not positive in nature. A stem secured in a head and provided with a filament held in the clamps of the lead-in conductors thereof is held in an inverted position by a head of an utomatic stem and mount making machine so that the filament (unsupported between end portions) depends downwardly in a loop. The center support wire loop forming die is positioned so that the depending loop of the coil slides down a tapered section thereof to position itself in the center loop forming die hook where a loop is formed in the support wire thereabout. In most cases if the tapered section of the die becomes oxidized or dirty, the coil, being light in weight will not slide into the hook of the center support wire loop forming die.

Hence, it has been found advantageous to provide a filament positioner (for a filament clamped in the hooks of the lead-in conductors) in combination with a support wire loop forming device of an automatic stem and mount making machine which will carry the filament forward and positively locate the filament in the desired location above the center support wire loop forming die when the die rises to form a loop in the support wire about the positioned clamped filament. My filament positioner comprises a mounting bracket or casting provided with a slide and is located at the back of the support wire loop forming device. The slide is operated by the support wire loop forming device, as said device oscillates back and forth. As the outer portion of the loop forming die mechanism yoke swings to a vertical position, the yoke moves a slide operating lever which in turn carries the slide forward toward the loop forming die sections. The slide carries two positioning fingers which engage the depending filament from behind and carry it forward and into a predetermined positive location with respect to the support wire loop forming dies, so that the loops in the filament support wires may be formed about the filament.

In its general aspect the present invention has as its objective a filament positioner for a support wire loop forming device of an automatic stem and mount making machine and for engaging a clamped filament and carrying the filament forward and into a positive desired location above the support wire loop forming device.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains as the description thereof proceeds both by direct recitation and by implication from the context.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an automatic Stein and mount making machine having a filament posinited States Patent tioner and a support wire loop forming device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a finished filament mount for an incandescent lamp.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the complete cycle of operation of the filament positioner slide, support wire loop formers and support wire gripping. jaws.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism for the support wire loop forming device and filament positioner of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the filament positioner and support wire loop forming device of the invention at the end of the support wire loop forming operation and just prior to indexing of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the filament positioner along the lines VI-VI of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a plan elevational view of the support wire loop forming device along the lines Vll-VII of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but drawn on a larger scale, of the support wire loop forming device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the filament positioning fingers, stem support wire gripping jaws and support wire loop formers at the beginning of the support wire loop forming cycle.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the filament positioning fingers at the end of their horizontal travel and the support wire gripping jaws at the bottom or lowermost point of their rotary travel.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figures 9 and 10 and showing the forming of the support wire loops about the positioned filament by the support wire loop formers.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 2 the reference numeral 10 designates a filament mount. This mount has a stem 12 which may comprise a pair of lead-in wires 14 and 16, sealed through a press 18 of a flare 20. An exhaust tubulation 22 is sealed to the lower portion of the press 18 and is provided with a suitable exhaust hole through the side wall of the flare 20. An arbor or center support 24 projects from the top of the press 18 and carries a plurality of filament supports 26 for intermittently supporting a filament 3%. The legs or ends of a filament 30 are clamped within suitable hooks 32 provided in the inner ends of the lead-in wires 14 and 16 by a hook forming assembly or mechanism (not shown).

Automatic stem and mount making machine Referring now to Fig. 1 the reference numeral 6% designates an automatic stem and mount making machine. This machine of has a conveyor type turret 62 mounted on a stationary frame 63 for carrying a plurality of stem and mount supporting heads 64, for example 61, in the present showing, which are indexable through a like number of work stations by a conventional indexing mechanism 66, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

At station 61 a flare 20 may be loaded into a head 64 by hand or by automatic means. A flare detector (not indicated) at station 1 may deenergize (if the head 62 is not loaded) or energize a lead-in wire loader at stations "2 and 3 for feeding the lead-in wires 14 and 16. A lead-in wire detector (not indicated) at station 4 likewise controls the operation of a loader of an exhaust tube 22 at station 5. At station 6 an exhaust tube detector (not indicated) and a flare push-down device (not indicated) at stations 7 through 10 may seat the exhaust tube 22 properly with respect to the flare 20, so that a sufficient length of the tube 22 projects beyond the flare 20, to later form the arbor 24, as hereinafter explained.

From station 7 through 30, the flare 20, exhaust tubulation 22, and lead wire 14 and 16 are heated by stationaryfires provided in an outer and inner manifold adjacent these stations. A stem 12 may be formed by means of a first and second stem pressing operation, as for exampleat stations'2l and 26 respectively. From stations 23 through 25 the exhaust tube blow-out hole in the-flare 20 and the tubulation 22 may be-provided.

At station 34 the lead-in wires 14 and 16 may be properly positioned in parallel alignment with the exhaust tube 22. Button forming fires at stations 36 through "38 heat the end of the exhaust tube 22 to form the button 34 preparatory to insertion of the support wires 26 at station 39. A no-blowout detector (not indicated) may be employed at stations "40 and 41 respectively. The leads 14 and 16 may be trimmed and flattened at station 42. The hook-forming assembly 50'at station 45 forms a hook 32 in the trimmed and flattened lead-in wires 14 and 16.

At station 47 a filament 30 may be inserted into the now formed hooks 32 in the lead wires 14 and 16 and the filament 30 may be clamped therein.

At station 50 the lead-in wires 14 and 16 may be moved divergently outward from the axis of the stem 12. This positioning of wires 14 and 16 permits entrance of a filament positioner and a support wire curling or loop forming device of the invention (Fig. 5) which curls the supports 26 about filament 30 at station 52.

Lead-in wires 14 and 16 and the curled support Wires 26 may be adjusted automatically to specified alignment at stations 54 and "55 respectively. At station "56 the filament mount 10 may be dipped in getter. At station 58 the jaws of the head 64 may be opened to permit the removal therefrom of the finished mount 10 from the machine 60.

Support wire loop forming device The support wire loop forming device 80, shown in Figures 5, 7 and 8, and fragmentarily in Figs. 9 through 11, consists essentially of a support wire gripping mechanism 82 and a support wire loop forming mechanism 84.

The support wire loop forming device 80 has a stand or mounting bracket of generally D-shaped horizontal cross section which is secured by means of mounting plate 92, adjustably mounted along its straight side (Fig. 5) to the frame 63 of the automatic stem and mount making machine 60. A yoke or holder 94 of generally U-shaped horizontal cross section pivots on suitable center screws 96, each extending through the side wall of the mounting bracket 90 and into the open ended portion of an arm of the yoke 94.

From a consideration of Fig. 5 it is apparent that an adjustable screw 98 extending through a horizontal lip 100 on the right hand end (when viewed in Fig. 5) of the mounting bracket 90 serves as a stop to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the yoke 94. The clockwise rotation of the yoke 94 is limited, as hereinafter explained, by cam action and connection of the support wire loop forming device 80 with the filament positioner 70.

The yoke 94 is provided with hub portion or mount rod sockets 102. Mount rods 104 and 106, shown particularly in Fig. 7, are secured in the hub portions 102. The mount rod 104 is suitably longer than the mount rod 106 and depends a substantial distance below the mounting bracket 90 for connection to oscillating means 107 of a drive mechanism 108 (Fig. 4), as hereinafter explained.

Support wire loop forming mechanism 84 A support wire loop former mounting bracket 110 (Fig. 5) is reciprocable by means of hub portions 112 thereof on the mount rods 104 and 106. Upstanding from suitable hub portions 114 of the support wire loop forming device mounting bracket 110 are a plurality of, for example in the present showing of Fig. 7, four adjustable support wire gripping mechanism operating cams 116. These cams 116 which open and close the gripping mechanism 82 have conical roller engaging upper ends (Fig. 5). It will be understood that the right hand portions, when viewed in Fig. 5, of the mounting bracket 110 is provided with a clearance slot (not shown) between the right hand cam hubs 114, when viewed in Fig. 5, to permit vertical reciprocation therein of a support wire gripping mechanism connecting rod 156 (Figs. 4 and 5), as hereinafter explained.

A support wire loop former or curling die mounting block 120 (Fig. -5-) is adjustably secured to the left hand portion, when viewed in Fig. 5, of the mounting block 110, suitably between the mount rods 104 and 106. This mounting block 12.0 carries a plurality of, for example 3, support wire loop forming or curling dies 122 (Figs. 5, 9, l0 and 11) which are adjustably mounted thereon to engage the positioned ends of the support wires 26. Each of these dies has a formed vertical channel or V in its support wire engaging face for precurling and finally curling (by means of the bottom generally circular portion or curled'end thereof) a support wire 26 about the filament 30.

Support wire gripping mechanism 82 A generally triangular shaped mounting plate or casting .130 (Figs 5, 7 and 8) of the support wire gripping mechanism 82 carries suitable depending hubs 131 (Fig. 5) whichreciprocate on the mounting rods 104 and 106 above the support wire loop forming mechanism mounting plate 110. As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, the plate is-provided with four jaw operating cam clearanceholes 132 through which the cams 116 reciprocate during the vertical reciprocating motion of the grippingmechanism 82. In addition, the upper face of the plate 130 is provided with a plurality of slide grooves or guides 134 (Fig. 7) four in the instant case. Each of the grooves 134 extends radially from the center of a head 64 outwardly through the cam clearance holes 132.

Spring biased slides (Fig. 7) 136a, 136b, 136a and 136d reciprocate in the slide grooves 134. Slide covers or retaining plates 137 retain the slides 136a, 136b, 1360 and 136d in their respective guides 134. The outer end of each of the slides 136a, 136b, 1360 and 136d is suitably bifurcated to permit passage of a cam 116 therethrough, and carries a cam roller mounting block 138 (Fig. 7 thereon. Each mounting block 138 in turn carries a cam roller in spring biased engagement with a cam 116.

As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8 a support wire holding half-jaw 140a and 14017 is carried on the inner end of-each of the supports 136a and 13Gb respectively.

A support wire holding jaw 142a and 142d is in like manner carried respectively by the inner ends of slides 136a and 136d. It will be understood (Figs. 7 and 8) that one of the support wires 26 may be secured between the half jaw 140a and the jaw 142C; the center support wire 26 between the jaw 142a and the jaw 132d; and the third support wire 26 secured between the jaw 142a and the 'half-jaw 140b.

A horizontal support wire guide or wire angle (Fig. 8) carried by the jaw 142c extends laterally over the gap between the jaw 142a and the half-jaw 140a (when said jaws are in the open position) to guide a support wire 26 therebetween downwardly into the predetermined inclined position, as hereinafter explained. In like manner guides 152 and 154 (Fig. 8) carried by the jaw 142d extend laterally across the opening between the jaws 142d and 1420 and the jaw 142d and the halfjaw 1401), respectively, to likewise guide the other two support wires 26 as explained above.

The support wire gripping mechanism mounting plate 130 carries a connecting rod yoke (not shown) on its underside for engagement with the upper end of a connecting rod 156. This rod 156 connects the support wire pp ng mechanism .82 to asupport wire gripping mechanism reciprocating means 158 of the drive mechanism 108 (Fig. 4), as hereinafter explained.

An adjustable pin or rod 159 depends from the right hand (when viewed in Fig. 5) portion of the mounting plate 130, and engages a stop button 159 on the holder 94 for limiting the downward motion of the support wire gripping mechanism 84, as hereinafter explained.

Filament positioner As shown in Fig. 5 the support wire loop forming device yoke 94 carries a lever operating bracket 160 which is suitably provided with a bifurcated end handily bridged by a pin carrying a lever trip roller 162. A slotted filament positioner mounting bracket 164 is adjustably mounted to the inner face of the straight sided portion of the mounting bracket 90. This mounting bracket or casting 164 comprises essentially two parallel straight sided vertical members 166 (Fig. 5) bridged on their upper ends thereof by a guide plate 168, provided with a slide clearance slot 169 and connected across their lower portions by a mounting flange 170.

A spring biased slide operating bell crank lever 172 pivots on a suitable pin 174 extending through the vertical side members 166. A lower roller engaging or latch portion 176 of the lever 172 is maintained continuously in engagement with the roller 162. The outer or upper end of the lever 172 is suitably connected to a downwardly depending bifurcated portion 178 of a filament positioner slide 180. The left hand end (when viewed in Figs. 5 and 6) of the slide 180 carries a spring pin mounting bracket 182. A spring 184 extends between a pin on the bracket 182 and a second pin upstanding from the stationary slide guide 168. As shown in Fig. 6 slide retaining plates 170 keep the slide 180 within the guide 168.

The right hand (when viewed in Figs. 5 and 6) por tion of the slide 180 carries a pair of upstanding filament positioner finger holders 190. Each of these holders 190 is vertically and rotatably adjustable to give any desired location to a clamped filament positioner finger 200 carried thereby.

The right hand portion (when viewed in Figs. 5 and 6) of positioner fingers 200 may suitably converge inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the slide 180 (Fig. 6) and then vertically upward into upright leg portions 201 (Fig. 5) so that the horizontal filament engaging outer portions or overhang 201 thereof project horizontally inwardly toward a mount held by a head 64 adjacent thereto.

Drive mechanism 108 The drive mechanism 108 (Fig. 4) for the filament positioner 70 and the support wire loop forming device 80 has a plurality of cams namely, an oscillating or tilting cam 202, a support wire gripping mechanism operating cam 204 and a support wire loop forming device operating cam 206, all on a main cam shaft 210 (Figs. 1 and 4) of the machine 60. The drive mechanism 108 comprises essentially the oscillating or tilting means 107, a support wire loop forming mechanism reciprocating means 124 and the support wire gripping mechanism reciprocating means 158.

Tilting mechanism 107 In addition to the cam 202 (Fig. 4) the oscillating or tilting means 107 for oscillating the support wire loop forming device 80 comprises a connecting linkage between the cam 202 and the relatively longer mount rod 104. A cam lever 212 on a cam lever shaft 214 (Fig. 4) carries a cam roller 216 in engagement with the tilting cam 202. An adjustable connecting rod 218 connects the upper end of the cam lever 212 with a block 21? on the lower end of the mount rod 104.

Gripping mechanism operating means 158 A bell crank lever 220 of the support wire gripping mechanism reciprocating means 124 on a second cam lever shaft 222 (Fig. 4) carries a suitable roller 224 on its lower end in engagement with the gripping mechanism operating cam 204. The upper end of the lever 220 is connected to the lower end of the adjustable connecting rod 156 (Figs. 4 and 5).

Support wire loop forming device reciprocating means 124 The cam lever shaft 214 carries a lever 230 thereon of the support wire loop forming device reciprocating means 158. The upper end, as viewed in Fig. 4, of the lever 230 carries a roller in engagement with the support wire loop forming device operating cam 206. The other end of the lever 230 is connected to the lower end of an adjustable connecting rod 123, the upper end of which is secured to the support wire loop former mounting bracket 110. Adjacent the lever 230 the cam lever shaft 214 carries a spring arm 232. A suitable cam lever biasing spring extends between the arm 232 and the connecting rod engaging portion of the lever 230.

Operation As a stem and mount supporting head 64, carrying a mount 10 having a filament 30 clamped in lead-in wires 14 and 16, indexes into station 52, the yoke 94 of the support wire loop forming device and filament positioner 70 are in their extreme back position (Fig. 5), permitting free travel of the mount 10 therethrough without interference. The mounting plate 130 of the support wire gripping mechanism 82 is at the extreme upward end of its travel. Mounting bracket of the support wire loop forming mechanism 84 is at its lowest point of travel. With the mounting plate in this position each of the support wire gripping jaws a, 140b, 1420 and 142d is held in its extreme back or open position by the roller on the mounting block 138 (Fig. 7) being in engagement with the raised upper portion of the cam 116. The guides 150, 152 and 154 rest on the support wires 26.

As the stern and mount supporting head 64 is coming to rest in this position (Fig. 3) the oscillating means operating or tilting cam 202 (through lever 212, connecting rod 218, block 219 and mounting rod 104) pivots or tilts holder 94 on center screws 96, to'a vertical position against the stop screw 98 in lip 100 of stand 90.

While the holder 94 is moving to the vertical position, the roller 162 on lever operating bracket contacts the slide operating lever 172 and pivots the lever 172 carrying slide 18% and filament positioner or finger holders 1% thereon forward. The forward movement of the holders 1% (to the right when viewed in Figs. 5, 9 and 10) carries the positioner fingers 200 against the clamped filament 30 so that the thrust of the positioner fingers 200 takes up the slack in the filament 30 thus causing an upward creep of the filament 30 along the upright leg 201 of fingers 200 and under the horizontal overhang 201 thereof. The filament 30 is now in the position shown in Fig. 10. The positioner fingers 200 straddle the center forming die 122.

When forward motion of the positioner fingers 200 stops (Fig. 3), the center portion of the filament 30 for example, is held thereby at the vertical centerline of the lower curled end of center forming die 122, or at the centerline of the loop which is to be formed in the center support wire 26. it will be understood that the portions of filament 30 adjacent the remaining two dies 122 are similarly positioned with respect thereto.

When filament positioner 70 and support wire loop forming device 80 reach the vertical position of Fig. 9 the support wire gripping mechanism operating cam 204 (through lever 220 and rod 156) pulls down (Fig. 3)

140a, 142a, 142d and 14017 on supports 26 and bringing the endsv of the support wires 26 into-the V of the forming dies 122 (Fig. It will be understood that jaws 140a, 142a, 142d and 14% close as downward motion-of the mounting plate 130 ceases.

Justbefore the supportwires 26 are finally clamped (Fig. 3)- thesupport wire loop forming mechanism operating'cam 206 (through lever 230 and rod 123) lifts upwardly the support wire loop forming mechanism mounting bracket 110,- carrying loop forming dies 122 thereon; This upward thrust of the dies 122, which are centralized with the ends of the support wires 26, causes the support wires 26 to follow the shape of the dies 122. The support wires 26-curl down under, up and around andover the-filament 30, thus forming enclosing loops around the filament 30 (Fig. 11).

Immediately after the forming of the loops (Fig. 3) the mounting bracket 110" moves downwardly, carrying the dies 122 away from the filament 30. As the dies 1'22 reach their low point of travel, simultaneously the jaws 140a, 142i. and 14% open, and the mounting plate 130 begins torise, leaving the support wires 26 looped around the filament 30. When the mounting plate 130 reaches its high point of travel, the holder 94 begins its backward pivot to permit the stem and mount supporting head64to index.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been. described it will be understood that modifications may be. made under the spirit and scope of the invention.

L claim:

1. In-combination for an automatic stem and mountingmachine having at least a frame, a support wire loop forming device on said frame for curling filament support wires about a positioned clamped filament and comprising a stand on said frame, a yoke tiltable on said stand, a pair of mount rods upstanding from said yoke, a support Wire gripping mechanism reciprocable on said mount rods and for guiding support wires into position for curling-and securing said support wires thereat, means for reciprocating said support wire gripping mechanism on said -mountirods, a support wire loop forming mechanismreciprocable on said mount rods and for curling positionedsecured support wires about a positioned filament, and meansfor reciprocating said support Wire loop formingmechanism on-said mount rods, and. a filament positioner on said support wire loop forming device for positioning a downwardly depending clamped filament prior to and during curling of said support wires about said filament.

2; In combination for an automatic stern and mountingmachine having at least a frame, a support wire loop forming device on said frame for curling filament support wires about a positioned clamped filament and comprising a standon said frame, a yoke tiltable on said stand, a pair of mount rods upstanding from said'yoke, a support wire gripping mechanism reciprocable on said mount rods and for guiding support wires into position for curling and securing said support wires thereat, means for reciprocating said support wire gripping mechanism on said mount rods, a support wire loop forming mechanism reciprocable on said mount rods andfor curl? ing positioned secured support wires about a positioned filament, andmeans for reciprocating said support wire loop forming mechanism on said mount rods, and a filament positioner on said support wire loop forming device for positioning a downwardly depending clamped filament prior to andduring curling of said support wires about said filament, said'filamentpositioner comprising a mounting bracket. on said device, a bell crank lever within said mounting bracket, means on said support wire loop'forming device for oscillating said lever with said support wire loop forming device, a slide on said mounting bracket and reciprocable therein by said'lever, filament. positioner fingers on said slide for engaging a clamped filament and positioning same for looping support. wires thereabout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,532 Flaws May 9, 1933 1,907,533 Flaws May 9, 1933 2,085,578 Flaws June 29, 1937 2,327,033 Flaws Aug. 17, 1943 2,597,354 Maloney May 20, 1952 

